The very best from the world of smooth jazz and classic soul.

July 10, 2011

Jeff Golub In Battle To Save His Sight

The recent reports that guitarist Jeff Golub is battling to save his sight has come as a huge shock to everyone who knows his music or has witnessed his supercharged live performances. In fact it was back in February of this year, while finalizing his latest album, ‘Three Kings’, (which has already attained #1 on Amazon's contemporary blues chart) that Jeff began having trouble with his right eye. The condition worsened and after trips to several of New York's top eye specialists he was diagnosed with a collapse of the optic nerve in that eye. Although adjusting to what Golub has himself described as a ‘one-eyed life’, as of late June he has began to experience similar problems in his left eye. The fact Jeff continues to play and perform is a testament of both his courage and of his passion for the music he loves.

Golub's blend of jazz, R&B and pop has always epitomized the tougher, grittier, earthier side of smooth jazz”. Born in Akron Ohio, Golub is both proud and protective of the rock roots that he never tires of returning to. His first break came in 1980 when, shortly after his arrival in New York, he was invited to join Billy Squier's band. This led to him performing with Squier on several albums and three world tours. He went on to work with Peter Wolf, John Waite, Tina Turner, Vanessa Williams and Ashford & Simpson among others but arguably his biggest opening came when he began to work with Rod Stewart, an association that lasted eight years. Golub had released his debut solo album, ‘Unspoken Words’, in 1988 but it was not until after he left Rod Stewarts band in 1994 that he returned to the recording studio, this time with his own creation, the band Avenue Blue. He went on to make a total of three albums with them but in 1995, with the Avenue Blue project still very much alive, pianist Bob James hired him for a week of shows at the Blue Note in New York. This chance association resulted in him touring and performing with James and Kirk Whalum on, and in support of, their Grammy-nominated ‘Joined At The Hip’ CD. With his 1997 ‘Out Of The Blue’ Golub finally went legitimately solo and since then has built up a credible discography.